It is very important that many neuronal cells are produced by cell proliferation and differentiation in the development of mammalian brains. A research group led by Professor Noriko Osumi at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and Research Fellow Yuji Tsunekawa (currently at the Scripps Research Institute) has discovered that Cyclin D2, a cell cycle regulation factor, localizes at the tip of the basal process, the most surface side the brain premordium, in the mammalian neural progenitor cells. This study has also revealed that Cyclin D2 is inherited by one of the two daughter cells with the basal process during cell divisions of neural progenitors into two daughter cells, and it plays a role to maintain the cell fates undifferentiated. In addition, since this kind of conservation of undifferentiated cells by Cyclin D2 is observed only in mammals, this mechanism can be considered to be acquired during evolution. Further studies will be expected to elucidate the mechanism for production of enormous nerve cells and growth of the human brain.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

(About the research)

Professor Noriko Osumi

Department of Developmental Neuroscience

Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

TEL: +81-22-717-8203

E-mail: osumi*med.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

(Public Relations)

Associate professor Fuji Nagami

Public Relations Office of Tohoku University

Graduate School of Medicine

Tel: +81-22-717-7908

Fax: +81-22-717-8187

E-mail: f-nagami*med.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)